Curating 'Sustainable Futures Exhibition'
2022 - 2023, RISD x HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP
The RISD x Hyundai partnership focuses on semester programs around nature-inspired design. Over the years it has helped fellows discover and develop new ideas based on biomimicry, and learning to make with nature's forms, processes and systems. 2022-23 culminated in the Sustainable Futures exhibition, partnering with 13 departments and the RISD Nature Lab. As a team of 5; we curated, designed, promoted, installed, and worked rapidly with researchers and vendors to bring the exhibit to life.
Team
Vrinda Mathur (Curatorial Lead), Arvind Bhallamudi (Assistant Curator), Dani Epstein (Production Lead), Shravan Rao (Production Assistant), Harshal Duddalwar (Graphics) Farida Abousteit (Graphics) Yuheng He, Helina (Spatial), Leslie Ponce-Díaz (Spatial)
Role
Managed participant and team logistics, lead copywriting and communications, and supported the team with spatial design, graphics, production and launch.
Areas of Focus
Exhibition Design
Spatial Design
Production
Curation
Communications
Execution and Launch
RISD x Hyundai Partnership
The Sustainable Futures exhibition is an ongoing multi-year collaboration between Hyundai Motor Group and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), facilitated through sponsored studios and fellowships across 13 departments: Architecture, Ceramics, Digital + Media, Film/Animation/Video, Global Arts and Culture, Glass, Graphic Design, Illustration, Industrial Design, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Nature–Culture –Sustainability Studies.
In my second semester at RISD, I worked as a Teaching Assistant for the Tech Landscapes Studio with taught by Shona Kitchen. In parallel I worked at the Nature Lab as a Biomaterials Assistant and conducted workshops for students from across RISD and Brown University, including for the Hyundai Digital Ceramics studio. These adjacent experiences gave insight on framing the physical and experiential flows in the space.
Img.1-8 Participant projects ranging from biomimicry to biophilia for nature-based designs.
Curation
My role involved actively supporting the curatorial and graphic design teams to ensure the exhibition reflected the richness and diversity of the student work. With projects ranging from biomaterial experiments in Ceramics to speculative robotic concepts from Industrial Design, curating the show required careful storytelling and sequencing. In this, I facilitated communication between departments and helped map out an exhibition that communicated individual projects, as well as a broader narrative about the role of biodesign in reshaping our ecological and social futures and world-views.
Img.9-14 Mockups of placing selected exhibits on pedestals.
Design
The spatial layout of the show was designed to evoke an ecosystem of ideas, with an open and adaptable format allowing each department’s work to breathe while also engaging in dialogue with adjacent themes. I assisted with the physical installation of structures, AV components, and lighting, contributing to a modular and accessible design. We designed zones around thematic clusters - materials, mobility, systems, and storytelling - and prioritized visibility and flow across disciplines.
Fig.1 Top view of spatial design with pedestals, central frame, and walls.
Fig.2 Main wall of exhibition laid out for measurements and placement.
Execution
A critical part of the exhibition’s success lay in its ability to communicate sustainable futures to a wider public. Working with the curatorial and graphic design teams, I led the writing and narrative design, and made sure that print assets were clear and cohesive. The graphics team developed minimal yet bold visual language to guide visitors through the space, with both an inquisitive and accessible verbiage. I also supported the integration of digital storytelling elements that enhanced context for the projects on display, using a mix of physical, digital and immersive installation experiences.
As part of my role, I also coordinated with RISD’s Nature Lab, which supported the creation of a central structural installation inspired by bio-mimicry and ecological form. I worked closely with the RISD Store team to source sustainable materials and oversee fabrication and production, including print runs and custom exhibition components. The result was a grounded, place-based design that reflected the values we hoped to inspire in our audience.
Img.15-16 Information about the exhibition.
Img.18-23 Exhibition execution and launch at 20 Washington Place.
Concluding Thoughts
The initiative encouraged students and faculty to draw inspiration from nature and biology to design sustainable systems, materials, and futures - a multi-disciplinary testing ground for exploring biofabrication, speculative mobility, and ecological aesthetics. The exhibition helped translate student research into a coherent public showcase, bridging industrial approaches with academic rigor, and inviting hundreds of viewers over the few weeks.
Img.17 Central frame created in partnership with RISD Nature Lab.
Multimedia and Communications Plan
Balancing creative writing with technical information was done in parallel with the assisting the design team with layouts, visual graphics, imagery and interactions. The communications strategy and website were refined, tested and launched in June 2024.
